Nobody losing anything due to vaccine mandate: Centre to SC

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday opposed in the Supreme Court the arguments that people are losing their jobs and rations allegedly due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandates issued by various states and authorities, saying nobody is “losing anything”.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told this to a bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai that was hearing a matter in which issues including disclosure of data on clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine mandates have been raised.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, said the aspect of vaccine mandates that are being issued by several states and other authorities is urgent as people are losing their jobs.

“Right now, what is urgent is the vaccine mandate because people are losing their jobs. They are losing their rations. They are not able to move around freely as a result of these vaccine mandates,” Bhushan said.

Mehta told the bench that the petitioner has filed an application in the matter claiming that people are losing their jobs due to this.

“Mr Bhushan filed an IA that many people are losing their jobs etc. Nobody is losing anything and nobody has come before your lordships,” Mehta said.

During the hearing, the bench told Bhushan that all these instances, which the petitioner is bringing to its notice, might not be possible for the court to decide because there may be numerous situations.

The bench said it would hear the matter finally and then decide it. “Today, the situation is that people are losing their jobs,” Bhushan said.